Common Causes of Neck Pain

Your neck is important. It supports and helps you turn your head. When you suffer from neck pain, it can be difficult to get through your day. Your rehabilitation doctor can help you get relief from neck pain. The doctors at Rehabilitation Physicians in Novi, and Howell, MI, offer a wide range of rehabilitation services, including diagnosis and treatment of neck pain.

What You Need to Know about Neck Pain

Neck pain can have several causes. These are 5 of the most common causes of neck pain:

Muscle strains, which can be caused by spending hours with your neck and head inclined toward a computer screen, cell phone, or other device.

Joint problems, which can be caused by aging and degenerative joint conditions including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Nerve compression, which can be caused by a herniated disk, bone spur, or other spinal condition.

A neck injury, which can be caused by an accident, resulting in whiplash, or a sports injury involving your neck.

A disease involving your neck, including meningitis or cancer

For mild, occasional neck pain you can try a few simple home remedies to get relief. You can:

• Apply ice or heat to your neck several times daily
• Rest your neck for the first 24 hours after an injury
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol
• Wear an over-the-counter neck collar to stabilize your neck
• Do gentle neck stretches and exercises to maintain flexibility and prevent stiffness

For moderate to severe neck pain, you should visit your rehabilitation specialist. Professional treatment for neck pain includes:

• Medication therapy to reduce swelling and promote healing of muscles, tendons, and ligaments
• Therapeutic massage, to boost blood flow, increase range-of-motion, and promote healing
• Electrical Stimulation, to reduce stiffness and increase blood flow to the muscles in your neck
• Wearing a neck support to help stabilize your neck while it heals

Want to Know More

To learn more about the causes and treatment of neck pain, call the doctors at Rehabilitation Physicians. You can reach them in their two office locations in Novi, and Howell, MI, by calling (248) 893-3200, so call today.